Improvement in apparatus for treating petroleum



G. ALLEN.

, APPARATUS FOR TREATING PETROLEUM. 110,182,625. Patented. Sept. 26,1876.

N, PETERS. PHOTO-LITMOGHAPHER. WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ALLEN, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR TREATING PETROLEUM.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,625, datedSeptember 26, 1876 application filed April 20, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE ALLEN, ofFranklin, in the county of Venan go and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain improvements in apparatus for increasing the densityof, and removing impurities from, petroleum lubricating oils, of whichthe following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that in thesame is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my saidinvention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

Myinvention relates to apparatus for the above purpose, in which the oilis drawn from elevated troughs by capillary attraction, and conducted bymeans of muslin or other fibrous sheets to a pan or oil-receptaclebelow, the oil in its passage to the said pan being subjected to theaction of currents of heated air caused by suitable heating apparatuslocated in or near to the pan, as hereinafter fully described.

In the further description of my invention which follows, due referencemust be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, and-in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of myimproved apparatus, and Fig. 2 a transverse section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both figures.

A A are stands, extending vertically from the tray or pan B. G G aretroughs, supported at their ends by the stands A. DD are sheets of somefibrous material, secured to and partially within the troughs U by meansof bolts a, which extend lengthwise of the troughs. The ends of thesheets D hang over the sides of the troughs, and come into contact witha second series of sheets, E, of similar material, formed by acontinuous piece being secured by bolts 1; with reference to the troughsO and tray B, as shown in the drawing. F is a steam-pipe, preferablylocated in the tray B, designed to cause upward currents of heated airbetween the sheets E, and thereby facilitate the evaporation of thelighter constituents of the oil in its passage to the tray B, where itis stored in a condition to be drawn off for shipment.

The process of refining and increasing the density of petroleum by meansof my apparatus is as follows: Upon the troughs being filled the oil iscaused by capillary attraction to pass slowly down the sheets D to thesheets E, and thence to the tray B. In this transfer of the oil from thetroughs O to the tray B the said oil is freed from dirt and otherforeign matter, which is left as a sediment or residuum, and,in cominginto contact in its passage with air rarefied by means of the steam-pipeF, is separated from its lighter constituents, which pass off in theform of vapor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as'new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

In combination with the elevated troughs O and sheets of fibrousmaterial D, secured thereto substantially as shown, the fibrous sheetsE, tray B, and steam-pipe F, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEO. ALLEN. Witnesses:

WM. H. BIRGE, G. W. BRIG-HAM.

